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“I Will Not Live With You”: Despite Declaring Magic Johnson as ‘Not a Saint’, Wife Cookie Took an Unusual Route to Be Blissfully Unaware

Published 02/03/2023, 5:50 PM EST

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Magic Johnson was as magnetic a star as any during his stardom days in the NBA. In addition, as a part of the Showtime Lakers, his life was extravagant. However, while women swarmed around him, Johnson had been in a relationship since his college days. Notably, the star was dating his wife, Cookie Johnson. Surprisingly, the two didn’t live together for several years into Johnson’s NBA career. However, staying away from her superstar husband’s Hollywood life gave her a sense of calm. But after several requests from Magic, she finally agreed to live with him in LA, though not in the traditional way.

Cookie and Magic Johnson are one of the most recognized couples in the NBA. The pair were popular when Magic ran the show for the Lakers. However, their relationship was rocky at almost every stage. Notably, before tying the knot in 1991, Magic called off their wedding twice. In addition, the designer also had to endure her husband calling all his sexual partners when finding out about his HIV diagnosis.

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However, the two managed to stay strong despite it all. But as a younger couple, Cookie probably didn’t have the strength to know all the truth. In an interview with New York Times, she spoke about the time she complied with the five-time champion’s request but had her modifications.

Cookie and Magic Johnson didn’t live together

The 64-year-old was well aware of the life her NBA husband was living. That was the reason she was contempt having a long-distance relationship with Magic Johnson. Being unaware of his lifestyle made things easier for her. The two had several fallouts throughout their relationship at this point. Owing to her fears, she wanted to have her own security.

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So while she decided to live close to Magic, there was a clause about not staying together. Cookie told New York Times, “I finally told him, ‘All right, I’ll move to L.A., but I will not live with you.’ I need to have my own job. I need to have my own security. It just scared me to be so dependent on somebody and then, boom, they just drop you like that.”

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Soon after the two would get married in 1991. However, the pain was arguably just starting. Just months later pregnant Cookie had to come to terms with her husband’s diagnosis. The couple took that opportunity and stood as a positive beacon for the disease. But in 2001, things probably hit rock bottom. Magic Johnson and Cookie agreed to separate due to personal issues. Thankfully, in just a few weeks, they reconciled and have been closer ever since.

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Watch This Story – Magic Johnson drops the hammer on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as LeBron James nears iconic NBA record

Do you think without Cookie, Magic Johnson would have been the man he is today? Let us know your views in the comments below.

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Written by:

Anuj Talwalkar

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Anuj Talwalkar is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. He is a student studying at NM College in Mumbai, aspiring to pursue sports management to follow his love for sports. Anuj started following the NBA last year, and he loves to combine his passion for writing with his understanding of basketball.
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